End standard for theater chairs



Nov. 21, 1939. A. c. S-ELLERS R 2,180,999

END STANDARD FOR THEATER CHAIRS Filed May 24, 1937 and the like.

Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNETED STAT-ES ATET GF'FICE END STANDARD FOR THEATER CHAIRS Austin 0. Sellers, Menominee, Mich, vassig nor to Heywood-Wakefield Company, Gardner, Mass. a corporation of Massachusetts Application=May 24, 1937, SerialNo. 144,373

2 Claims; (01. -198) This invention relates to improvements in end standards for theater chairs and the like-and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in' the appended claims.

Heretofore, cast iron end standards have been conventional in seating equipment for theaters Such standards were practical in the old style legitimate theaterswhere most stage settings and interiors were of the old period type. At the present time, theaters and the like with their modern settings, interiors, fronts and lobbies,'make cast iron end standard chairs somewhat obsolete.

Cast iron end standards for theater chairs, therefore, are not only out of date, but they are expensive to manufacture and install. For instance, end standards in cast iron are made in rights and lefts and each style requires a different pattern. Also, each pattern has to be made special for the pitch of the floor to which the chairs are to be applied so that a very large number of patterns must bec'arried in stock. Storage of such patterns between use is a serious problem. Again, cast iron end standards for such chairs greatly increase the floor load to be sustained so that the floors must be made heavier and stronger, thus increasing building expense.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a light weight, but strong and rigid end standard of this kind, which avoids all of the objections to the use of cast iron standards.

Another object of the invention is to provide an end standard for this purpose which permits stocking of one style thereof and which style per mits of changes being made therein to accommodate any condition of floor, to which the standards are to be attached.

A further object of the invention is to provide a standard of this kind, to which any ornamentation suitable to the purchaser, may be readily applied, thus eliminating the necessity of making an end standard pattern for each ornamentation.

Again, it is in object of the invention to provide an end standard of this kind which may be made of sheet metal parts so'correlated as to provide a lighter and stronger structure to which the seat hinge and back fasteners may be secured, other than by making them integral parts of a cast structure.

Again it is a further object of the invention to provide an end standard of this kind wherein the panel may be made of one finish and the edge beading may be made of another finish and then secured to the associated margins of the panehmaking it possible to give many different finish combinations for 'harmony'with the interior of the theaterin which the standards are to be installed.

The above mentioned objects-of the invention, -5 as well as others, together with the several advantages thereof, will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

- In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of a theater chair "l0 end standard embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the same on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view through thestandard on an enlarged scale astaken on the line-3--3 of Fig. 1-.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the top portion of a sheet metal panel embodied in the end stand- 20 ard.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom or foot end portion of a certain-panel edge stifie'ning and finishing member, embodied in the improved end standard. v 5

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of I the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, lilindicates as a whole, the panel of the standard preferably made from a metal sheet or plate of a suitablev gauge. It is substantially 30 rectangular in shape, higher than it is wide and has opposed front and rear margins HI and 12 respectively, a top margin'13 and a'bottom margin I3 the top margin of the panel being wider at the top as shown, so as to give therear 35 margin a somewhat. curved top end formation as best appears in Fig. 1.

The front and rear margins of the panel are provided with means M and. I5 respectively, arranged to overlap and be secured to at least one side of each margin and to extend about the edge thereof to not only finish but to stiffen the same. The bottom or foot end portion of one of said means appears in Fig. 5.

As shown herein, each margin finishing and stifiening means l4 and [5 comprises a tube of a length somewhat greater but conforming to the shape of the associated margin of the panel, Each member [4 and I5 has a slit I6 in one side thereof of a width so as to permit the entrance 50 p of the associated panel margin into said tube.

-Thus, the edge of the margin substantially enranged in the plane of the major axis of said cross section. At longitudinally spaced points, rivets I! pass through the tube and associated spacer elements H! are arranged between each side surface of said margin and the opposite internal sides of the tube. These spacer elements permit making a better riveted connection and prevent any looseness or play which would result in objectionable rattling.

The top ends of the finishing means or tubes l4 and I5 terminate flush with the top edge of the panel. The panel is formed at its top edge with oppositely bent ears |9 having upright extensions 20 that extend into recesses 2| in the under side of an arm rest 22. Screws 23 pass through said ears to enter the arm rest from the bottom, the arm rest shown herein being made of wood.

As before mentioned, the means or tubes l4 and i5 are of a length greater than their associated margin of the panel so that the bottom ends of said tube extend below the bottom margin I3 of the panel as extensions M and l5 respectively. These extensions enter into and are preferably welded to suitably formed associated floor engageable foot members 24 and 25 respectively whereby the standard may be secured to the floor.

Theaters of the present time have modern settings, fronts, and lobbies which ordinarily include bright metal motifs in their make up. Therefore, in harmonizing the seating arrangements of such theaters with their interior furnishings and settings, certain ornamentations are desired upon said end standards. Preferably, such ornamentations are made so as to have some depth, as distinguished from a mere flat transfer, to produce the highlights and shadows that more vividly bring out the ornamentations and make the seating arrangements harmonize with the other interior furnishings of the theater.

As shown herein, said decoration, which is indicated as a whole at 2B, is made from bright metalrods 21 arranged and secured together in the desired motif, and applied to the outer surface of the panel. As different purchasers may desire a different ornamentation, these ornamentations must be of such character as to be applied to the thus far finished standard, without marring or damaging the same.

One way in which such ornamentation may be applied without the necessity of spot welding or the use of rivets, the presence of which would detract from the appearance of the standard, is

to provide recesses 28 (see Fig. 2) in that side of certain of the bars 21 of the ornament to be used. Holes 29 are then formed in the panel to register with those in the ornament, after which drive screws 30 are applied from the opposite face of the panel and which drive screws are then driven home. Thus, from the outer surface of the panel, no rivet or bolt heads appear on the ornament. This manner of applying the ornament has proven practical and satisfactory.

Certain end standards on the aisle may carry aisle lights. However, as the aisle light forms no particular part of the present invention, it is not shown or described.

Because of the construction described, themcessity of carrying a large pattern stock is avoided and the number of different styles of ornaments which it is possible to provide, is greatly increased. The end standard is much lighter in weight, but is just as strong and rigid as a cast iron one and at the same time may be made to fit any pitch of floor to which it is to be attached.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense and therefore I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An end standard for theater chairs or the like embodying therein a metal plate-like panel having its top end formed to provide oppositely facing, laterally extending portions and upwardly extending portions, means providing an arm rest for the top end of said panel and engaged on said laterally extending portions, said arm rest being formed in its bottom surface to receive said upwardly extending portions, and means for securing said arm rest to said laterally extending portions.

2. An end standard for theater chairs or the like embodying therein a metal plate-like panel having its top end formed to provide oppositely facing, laterally extending portions and part of which are bent to form upward extensions, means providing an arm rest for the top end of said panel and engaged upon said laterally extendin portions and having recesses in its bottom surface in which said upward extensions engage, and means for securing said arm rest to said laterally extending portions.

AUSTIN C. SELLERS. 

